Yankees starter Bryan Mitchell filled the bases with Blue Jays again the very next inning and walked Edwin Encarnacion on a high 3-1 fastball to put Toronto up by three. The inning was almost blown open on a ground ball up the middle by Jose Bautista, but Ronald Torreyes made a nice stab in the hole to start the double-play.

A bunt single from Ezequiel Carrera got the bottom of the seventh started and he was quickly moved to third on a Devon Travis single. With the bases loaded soon after, a double from Bautista stretched the lead out to 5-0. Tulowitzki slapped a single through a hole in the right side two batters later to put Toronto out in front by seven, giving him four RBI on the night.

Donaldson’s two-run home run in the eighth, his 36th of the season, extended the blowout to 9-0.

Francisco Liriano was excellent on the mound for Toronto, working six shutout innings on an even 100 pitches. His slider looked especially strong against left-handed batters as he allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out six.

After a scoreless seventh from Joaquin Benoit, Brett Cecil got the nod in the eighth with a big lead and looked sharp. He retired all three batters he faced and was spotting his signature curveball, a good sign for the Blue Jays in the most important stretch of their season. Danny Barnes wrapped things up with a very clean ninth.

Game two of the series is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 4:07 ET. Marcus Stroman (9-9, 4.50 ERA) will face veteran left-hander CC Sabathia (8-12, 4.19 ERA).